Carb substitutes

My trainer is really trying to get me to stick to the no carbs after 6pm rule. This is by far the hardest thing for me to crack as I really love my carbs. I find it especially hard when I come back from the gym at 9pm, hungry as hell and knowing a bowl of pasta and tomatoes or rice and tuna will only take 15 minutes to fix. It's not a burger or a lasagne, but in one foul move I am very aware that I have pretty much undone the hard work achieved just an hour earlier at the gym. I'm my own worst enemy!

Do any of you have any suggestions for thing to tuck into instead of pasta or rice after 6pm? I've been trying to replace these with tofu but doesn't go with everything. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Replies

  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Sounds like your trainer wants you to hearty up a bowl of true protein. Vegetables will contain natural-occuring carbohydrates and you wont be able to avoid that.

    Sounds to me he wants you to totally avoid the whites: breads, pasta, rice, flour as these carbs are truly not the healthy variety of carbs


    For low-carb vegetables: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatveg.htm
    For nutritional information: http://www.calorieking.com
  • MissNordicLight
    MissNordicLight Posts: 140 Member
    My PT says carbs are totally fine after a workout! But not the white kind, he wants me to stick to sweet potato, quinoa, brown rice, spelt and stuff like that.

    Try google on LCHF side dishes, you can find "rice" made from cauliflower, "pasta" made with squash and so on.
  • Try google on LCHF side dishes, you can find "rice" made from cauliflower, "pasta" made with squash and so on.

    I have never heard of these things, what a great idea! I'm going to search of those ASAP. I'm already on the brown carbs so that is a good thing. I do like sweet potato and squash as well. Thanks for the tips!
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Try google on LCHF side dishes, you can find "rice" made from cauliflower, "pasta" made with squash and so on.

    I have never heard of these things, what a great idea! I'm going to search of those ASAP. I'm already on the brown carbs so that is a good thing. I do like sweet potato and squash as well. Thanks for the tips!

    Spaghetti Squash

    Cut in half.
    Rub down with a nice quality olive oil
    Lightly season with sea salt, black pepper and garlic

    Bake in the oven on 375F for about 45 minutes to an hour depending on size.

    Once removed from the oven, take a fork and remove the strands...

    I absolutely LOVE spaghetti squash - its one of my favorite faux pastas!!!!
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member
    If you want to cut down on calories, don't even bother rubbing the spaghetti squash with oil. You don't need it to bake it
  • Sl1ghtly
    Sl1ghtly Posts: 855 Member
    My trainer is really trying to get me to stick to the no carbs after 6pm rule. This is by far the hardest thing for me to crack as I really love my carbs. I find it especially hard when I come back from the gym at 9pm, hungry as hell and knowing a bowl of pasta and tomatoes or rice and tuna will only take 15 minutes to fix. It's not a burger or a lasagne, but in one foul move I am very aware that I have pretty much undone the hard work achieved just an hour earlier at the gym. I'm my own worst enemy!

    Do any of you have any suggestions for thing to tuck into instead of pasta or rice after 6pm? I've been trying to replace these with tofu but doesn't go with everything. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    My thoughts- your trainer doesn't have a clue about nutrition. There is no reason to restrict carb intake after 6pm.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    If you want to cut down on calories, don't even bother rubbing the spaghetti squash with oil. You don't need it to bake it

    I didnt tell her she must.... I merely shared how I prepare mine. and one tablespoon per half is NOT that bad. A whopping 120 calories on an entire half squash is not detrimental...
    GEESH - so much for peacefully contributing...
  • Lissakaye81
    Lissakaye81 Posts: 224 Member
    I have gotten quite addicted to making homemade summer rolls. In the asian area of market grab ya some tapioca papers/sprigroll papers. Romaine lettuce, cucumber, carrots, avocado and what kind of protein you want. I love using foster farms hickory smoked turkey breast, or sauteeing chicken or shrimp with ginger and chinese mustard. Cut your carrots and cucumbers into long matchsticks, thinly slice your avocado. The tapioca papers take a little bit getting used to to learn to roll them, but they are so worth it. I use a wet plastic cutting board for a work surface. You can find some videos on how to roll on youtube. Wet tapioca paper lay several strips of avocado on middle of paper, then lettuce, carrots, cucumber, and protein, wrap em up and enjoy. There is a great sweet chili sauce by Mae ploy to use to dip. The tapioca paper and chili sauce have a very small amount of carbs, but you can get in a nice amount of protein and crispy veggies. They are really refreshing.
  • bisland
    bisland Posts: 245 Member
    how about a protein shake? I make my own with almond milk, non fat cottage cheese and a little suger free fat free instant pudding. Blend then let sit for 5 minutes. A little over 100 calories and totally filling.
  • golf4birdies
    golf4birdies Posts: 4 Member
    I have gotten quite addicted to making homemade summer rolls. In the asian area of market grab ya some tapioca papers/sprigroll papers. Romaine lettuce, cucumber, carrots, avocado and what kind of protein you want. I love using foster farms hickory smoked turkey breast, or sauteeing chicken or shrimp with ginger and chinese mustard. Cut your carrots and cucumbers into long matchsticks, thinly slice your avocado. The tapioca papers take a little bit getting used to to learn to roll them, but they are so worth it. I use a wet plastic cutting board for a work surface. You can find some videos on how to roll on youtube. Wet tapioca paper lay several strips of avocado on middle of paper, then lettuce, carrots, cucumber, and protein, wrap em up and enjoy. There is a great sweet chili sauce by Mae ploy to use to dip. The tapioca paper and chili sauce have a very small amount of carbs, but you can get in a nice amount of protein and crispy veggies. They are really refreshing.

    Love this idea!!! Thanks¡
  • @ Lissakaye81 Wonderful recipe! I can't wait to give it a try, thanks!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Is that when you eat your dinner? Or is he trying to get you out of the habit of snacking in the evening/fourth meal?

    My guess is usually that he wants to prevent you from mindless evening snacking, and mostly people mindlessly snack on carby snacks like pretzels, sweets, popcorn, crackers, etc.
  • I generally don't eat after I have had dinner but that is mainly because I am terrible for eating late; I'm not really one for snacking between meals. My exercise is good, but the way I look after myself is pretty awful. Late dinners, very late nights/mornings, early starts and so the cycle continues. I am very aware that having large quantities of carbs at night is giving me more energy at a time when I should be winding down. I have a habit of running on very little sleep for a couple of months before 'crashing' and getting whatever illnesses are around at the time. The crazy thing is I love to sleep, there is just always something more interesting to do! (>_<)

    I am trying to work on eating 5 times a day; good breakfast, snack (like plain popcorn), small lunch, snack, small dinner around 7:30pm, but goddamn it's hard! Hahaha! So my PT is trying to bring a bit more order and calm to a somewhat chaotic lifestyle ...poor guy. I'll get there though, I have to. I can't carry on like this for the rest of my life; I want to be an old lady some day!
  • Try squash fries! They're a delicious way to have a lower carb side. Taste just like sweet potato fries
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Try squash fries! They're a delicious way to have a lower carb side. Taste just like sweet potato fries

    What kind of squash?
  • Try squash fries! They're a delicious way to have a lower carb side. Taste just like sweet potato fries

    NICE! Can't wait!
  • RaeannePemberton
    RaeannePemberton Posts: 382 Member
    My trainer is really trying to get me to stick to the no carbs after 6pm rule. This is by far the hardest thing for me to crack as I really love my carbs. I find it especially hard when I come back from the gym at 9pm, hungry as hell and knowing a bowl of pasta and tomatoes or rice and tuna will only take 15 minutes to fix. It's not a burger or a lasagne, but in one foul move I am very aware that I have pretty much undone the hard work achieved just an hour earlier at the gym. I'm my own worst enemy!

    Do any of you have any suggestions for thing to tuck into instead of pasta or rice after 6pm? I've been trying to replace these with tofu but doesn't go with everything. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    My thoughts- your trainer doesn't have a clue about nutrition. There is no reason to restrict carb intake after 6pm.

    AGREE
  • snookumss
    snookumss Posts: 1,451 Member
    From my understanding, you should eat carbs and protein before and after a workout session. to give your body the energy/fuel it needs to rebuild right. Low fat so your body can be sure to absorb those nutrients....

    Good luck on that love! I like to eat hardboiled eggs all the time, no carbs there!